Topical compositions for anti-aging and methods of using same

ABSTRACT

A pharmaceutical composition for treatment of skin aging including a pharmaceutically effective amount of estriol; a pharmaceutically effective amount of estradiol; a pharmaceutically effective amount of hyaluronic acid; a pharmaceutically effective amount of green tea extract; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is provided. In some embodiments, the composition further includes ascorbic acid, date palm extract, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed is a method for treating symptoms of skin aging and photoaging by administering a pharmaceutical composition having estriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and optionally, ascorbic acid and date palm extract. A method of promoting urogenital function is likewise provided wherein a pharmaceutical composition having estriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract is applied intravaginally.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.11/169,239, filed Jun. 28, 2005, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/584,463, filed Jun. 29, 2004, all ofwhich are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to topical compositions for treating skinconditions associated with aging. More specifically, the inventionincludes compositions comprising estradiol, estriol, hyaluronic acid,green tea extract, and optionally ascorbic acid for topicaladministration to the skin. Also included within the scope of theinvention are methods of ameliorating symptoms of skin aging includingwrinkles, sun damage, rhytids, skin discoloration, rosacea, photoaging,hyperpigmentation, melasma, facial skin tightening including eyelids andjowls, and keratosis. Compositions and methods for improving theaesthetics of scars and promoting wound healing are similarly described.A composition and method for improving urogenital function is likewiseprovided.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the sixteenth century, Ponce de Leon searched the Americas in vainfor the legendary fountain of youth. Nearly 500 years later, individualsstill seek a magic youth potion to minimize the signs of aging. Cosmeticsurgery to promote a youthful appearance has become a growth industry.Cosmetic treatments such as botox, collagen injections, chemical peels,and laser treatment have been embraced by many to reduce the signs ofaging. In recent years, cosmeceuticals with potentially anti-agingeffects are a booming business, due in part to the aging baby boomerpopulation.

The human skin consists of two layers, the bottom thicker layer (dermis)and the top thinner layer (epidermis). Dermis is the layer whichprovides the strength, elasticity, and the thickness to the skin. Themain cell type of the dermis is the fibroblast, which is responsible forsynthesis and secretion of all the dermal matrix components such ascollagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans. Collagen provides thestrength, elastin is responsible for the elasticity, andglycosaminoglycans afford the skin moistness and plumpness.

With aging, the thickness of the dermal layer is reduced and this isbelieved to be partially responsible for the formation of wrinkles inaging skin. The top layer of human skin or the epidermis which providesthe resilience and the barrier properties of the skin, is composed ofmany different cell types including keratinocytes, melanocytes, andLangerhans cells. Richards et al. reported that estrogen stimulatessecretion of a protein, prolactin, by human dermal fibroblast cells andthat prolactin then stimulates proliferation of keratinocytes. Richardset al., J. Invest. Dermatol. 106: 1250 (1996).

Estrogens and synthetic compounds which act like estrogens are known toincrease the thickness of the dermal layer and to reduce wrinkleformation in the aging skin. The changes in the skin such as skindryness, loss of skin elasticity and plumpness occurring aftermenopause, for example, are attributed to the lack of estrogenproduction. Estrogen therapy prevents or slows down many of the changesassociated with skin aging including increasing skin thickness,reduction of wrinkles, increase in the mitotic rate of the epidermis,reduction in the size and activity of the sebaceous gland, reduction inhair growth rate, and stimulation of collagen turnover. See, Creidi etal. Maturitas 19: 211 (1994); Pugliese, Menopausal skin, Skin Inc.,March/April: 69-77 (1994).

Incontinence and vulvar and vaginal atrophy have likewise beenassociated with aging, particularly in post-menopausal women. Stressincontinence is related to weakness of the muscles within the pelvisthat provide support for the urethra and the bladder neck. Stressincontinence may be caused by a functional defect or by anatomicaldefect of the pelvic floor of the tissue or ligaments connecting thevaginal wall with the pelvic muscles. Trauma to pelvic organs oranatomical structures, neurological injury, and some medications mayweaken the pelvic function and support. Additionally, women with lowestrogen levels may experience stress incontinence due to decreasedvaginal muscle tone. Studies have documented that about 50% of all womenhave occasional incontinence of urine, stool, or flatus requiringmedical care or treatment, and as many as 10% have regular incontinence.

Estrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been used for the chronictreatment of urinary incontinence and vaginal dryness in post-menopausalwomen. However, poor patient compliance remains problematic and has beennoted with HRT because of negative side-effects, such as increased riskof uterine cancer, stroke, heart disease, bloating, increased breastcancer risk, and vaginal bleeding. Non-operative treatment options forpatients with incontinence and pelvic support issues can be attempted.But when these exercises fail, surgical repair is often advised. Whilesystemic hormonal therapy remains controversial in the treatment ofpelvic floor issues, local target-specific therapy is recognized asefficacious and safe.

Among the many surgical options for incontinence, the introduction intothe abdominal cavity of a pubovaginal sling of a synthetic retro-pubicmid-urethral sling has emerged as highly effective. In this procedure, atape-like material is passed through the pelvic tissue and is positionedaround the urethra and the bladder neck, forming a loop located betweenthe urethra and the vaginal wall to create a supportive “hammock” orsling effect. The tape provides an artificial structural support fortissue ingrowth and thereby provides a newly created body tissuesupporting means for the urethra. However, there are inherent risksassociated with surgery. In addition to the risks associated withanesthesia, surgery also carries the risk of infection at the woundsite, problems with wound healing including erosion at the site of slingplacement, and potentially excessive bleeding. Additionally, significantpost-operative complications have been observed when, for example,synthetic materials are used.

There is a constant need for improved compositions and methods forreducing the signs of skin aging. Moreover, a non-surgical alternativefor improving urogenital function would be a boon to medicine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates to topical compositions for treating skinconditions associated with aging. In one aspect of the disclosure, apharmaceutical composition for treating skin aging is provided. Thecomposition can include a pharmaceutically effective amount ofestradiol, estriol, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract for topicaladministration to the skin. Optionally, the composition additionallyincludes an effective amount of ascorbic acid. In some aspects of theinvention, the composition may also include an effective amount of datepalm extract.

Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition further includes apharmaceutically acceptable carrier such as a cream, gel, lotion,aerosol spray, salve, or infused bandage. Advantageously, thecomposition is formulated for topical administration. The estriol may bepresent in an amount between about 0.01 to about 3.0 w/w % of thecomposition. The pharmaceutically effective amount of estradiol isadvantageously between about 0.0001 w/w % and about 3.0 w/w %. Thepharmaceutically effective amount of hyaluronic acid may be betweenabout 0.01 w/w % and about 50.0 w/w %. Additionally, thepharmaceutically effective amount of green tea extract may be betweenabout 0.01 and about 10.0 w/w %. The pharmaceutically effective amountof date palm extract may be between about 0.01 and 25 w/w %.Advantageously, the pharmaceutically effective amount of ascorbic acidis preferably between about 0.01 and 10 w/w %. Optionally, thepharmaceutical composition includes estriol at an amount of betweenabout 0.01 to about 3.0 w/w %, estradiol in an amount of between about0.0001 and 3.0 w/w %, hyaluronic acid in an amount of between about 0.01and 50 w/w %, and green tea extract in an amount of between about 0.01to 10.0 w/w %. In certain aspects of the invention, the pharmaceuticalcomposition includes date palm extract in an amount of between about0.01 and 25 w/w % in addition to estriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid,and green tea extract in the amounts set forth above. In another aspectof the invention, the pharmaceutical composition includes between about0.01 and 10.0 w/w % of ascorbic acid in addition to estriol, estradiol,hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract in the amounts set forth abovewith or without date palm extract. The pharmaceutical composition fortreating skin aging may include other ingredients such as a sunscreen, amoisturizer, an exfoliant, a hydroxy acid, a ceramide, glycerin,liposomes, or one or more vitamins.

In still another aspect of the disclosure, a pharmaceutical compositionfor treating symptoms of skin aging is provided, wherein the compositionconsists essentially of the following ingredients: an effective amountof estriol; an effective amount of estradiol; an effective amount ofhyaluronic acid; an effective amount of green tea extract; and acarrier; wherein the composition is formulated for topicaladministration.

In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a pharmaceutical compositionfor treating symptoms of skin aging is provided, wherein the compositionconsists essentially of an effective amount of estriol, an effectiveamount of estradiol, an effective amount of hyaluronic acid, aneffective amount of green tea extract, an effective amount of date palmextract, and a carrier, wherein the composition is formulated fortopical administration. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical compositionfor treating symptoms of skin aging may consist essentially of aneffective amount of ascorbic acid in addition to an effective amount ofestriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, and optionally,date palm extract.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for treating the symptomsof skin aging is provided. The method includes identifying an individualpresenting with symptoms of skin aging, and topically administering tothat individual a pharmaceutically effective dose of a composition thatincludes estriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, and apharmaceutically effective carrier. The method may also includeadministering a pharmaceutically effective amount of date palm extractalone or in combination with ascorbic acid. The amount of date palmextract is preferably between about 0.01 to 25 w/w %. The amount ofascorbic acid is preferably between about 0.01 and 10.0 w/w % of theformulation. The individual may include a post-menopausal female, apre-menopausal female, or a male. Advantageously, the topicaladministration of a pharmaceutically effective dose of the presentcomposition treats symptoms of skin aging including rhytids, wrinkles,jowls, sun damage, dull appearance of skin, sagging skin, keratosis,hyperpigmentation, melasma, solar lentigo, solar keratoses,dermatoheliosis, or other skin discoloration disorders associated withaging.

In still another aspect of the disclosure, a method for augmenting theresults of cosmetic surgery by topically administering a pharmaceuticalcomposition, which includes estriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid, greentea extract, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, is provided.Optionally, the method can also include administering glycolic acid.Alternatively or in addition to, the method can also include theadministration of date palm extract and/or ascorbic acid. Thepharmaceutical composition may be administered to an individualpre-operatively, post-operatively, and/or substantiallycontemporaneously with a cosmetic surgery.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a cosmetic composition is providedfor use in alleviating the effects of skin aging. The cosmeticcomposition advantageously includes an effective amount of estriol,estradiol, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract and a cosmeticallyacceptable carrier adapted for topical delivery as a cosmetic product.The cosmetic product may be a makeup product such as a foundation,blush, or lipstick. It may include a colorant such as FD&C Red No. 40and/or FD&C Yellow No. 5. Optionally, the cosmetic product includes afragrance, moisturizer, or sunscreen. Advantageously, the cosmeticcomposition may further include an effective amount of date palm extractand/or ascorbic acid.

In still another aspect of the disclosure, a method for promoting woundhealing is described. The method includes topically administering to thesurface of a wound a pharmaceutical composition having apharmaceutically effective amount of estriol; a pharmaceuticallyeffective amount of estradiol; a pharmaceutically effective amount ofhyaluronic acid; a pharmaceutically effective amount of green teaextract; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in the amountsdescribed above. Optionally, the pharmaceutical composition furtherincludes an effective amount of date palm extract and/or ascorbic acid.

In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a method of promotingurogenital function is provided. The method includes identifying anindividual presenting with symptoms such as incontinence, vulvaratrophy, vaginal atrophy, vaginal dryness, and pelvic floor weakness,and administering intravaginally to the individual a pharmaceuticallyeffective dose of a composition, which includes a pharmaceuticallyeffective amount of estriol, a pharmaceutically effective amount ofestradiol, a pharmaceutically effective amount of hyaluronic acid, apharmaceutically effective amount of green tea extract, and apharmaceutically acceptable carrier in amounts as described above. Thecomposition may further include a pharmaceutically effective amount ofdate palm extract. Optionally, the composition may include apharmaceutically effective amount of ascorbic acid.

In still another aspect of the disclosure, a method of reducing thesymptoms of rosacea is described. The method includes identifying anindividual suffering from rosacea and topically administering to thatindividual a pharmaceutically effective dose of a composition whichincludes a pharmaceutically effective amount of estriol, apharmaceutically effective amount of estradiol, a pharmaceuticallyeffective amount of hyaluronic acid, a pharmaceutically effective amountof green tea extract, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier inamounts as described above. The composition may further include apharmaceutically effective amount of date palm extract. Optionally, thecomposition may include a pharmaceutically effective amount of ascorbicacid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a patient presenting with signs of skin agingprior to the application of the disclosed composition.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the patient in FIG. 1 after completing thefour month clinical trial described in Example 1 below.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of an individual's hand manifesting symptoms ofsolar lentigo prior to the application of the disclosed composition.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the hand in FIG. 3 after completing the fourmonth clinical trial described in Example 1 below.

FIG. 5 is a bar graph illustrating the results of the skin penetrationassay detailed in Example 2 of the specification.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of a patient presenting with rosacea prior totreatment with the disclosed composition

FIG. 7 is a photograph of the patient in FIG. 6 after treatment with thedisclosed composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is directed to compositions and methods for treatingskin aging and symptoms related thereto. The disclosure likewiseincludes a novel composition and method for improving urogenitalfunction. The disclosure is based in part on the surprising discoverythat a composition comprising an effective amount of estrogen-likecompounds including estriol and estradiol in combination with hyaluronicacid and green tea extract markedly reduces the signs of aging,decreases signs of photoaging, reduces melasma and sunspots, treatssolar lentigo, solar kertoses, and dermatoheliosis, increases skinfirmness, improves skin elasticity, reduces wrinkle depth, amelioratesthe symptoms of rosacea, and improves collagen synthesis and skinmoisture. It has further been discovered that ascorbic acid and datepalm extract can be added to the formulation to further reduce the signsof aging. The composition is similarly useful for promoting surfacewound healing, minimizing scarring and encouraging well-healed scarformation, improving the aesthetics of post-operative scars,facilitating healing in burned and/or traumatized tissues, and reducingstretch marks. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to the unexpecteddiscovery that systemic absorption of the estrogen-like compounds of thecomposition is surprisingly less when compared to conventional topicalestrogen creams.

As used herein, the term “effective amount” means an amount of compoundthat is capable of treating the symptoms of the described skin agingconditions. “Effective amount” likewise includes an amount of compoundthat is capable of promoting wound healing and urogenital function. Thespecific dose of a compound administered according to this inventionwill, of course, be determined by the particular circumstancessurrounding the case including, for example, the compound administered,the route of administration, the state of being of the subject, and theseverity of the pathological condition being treated. “Therapeuticagents” as used herein refers to the unique combination of estriol,estradiol, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract in the amountsdescribed below. “Therapeutic agents”, as used herein, can also includeascorbic acid and/or date palm extract.

“Skin”, as used herein, refers preferably to the surface of the face andneck. However, the term “skin” refers to any epidermal surface prone toaging and can also include, without limitation, the hands, elbows, upperarm region, knees, thighs, legs, feet, breasts, chest, stomach,buttocks, and back area.

The disclosed composition is an improved anti-aging multi-componentformulation for topical administration, which includes estrogen-likecompounds, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid. In certain embodiments,the composition further includes ascorbic acid. In other embodiments,the composition includes date palm extract. We have demonstrated thatthe topical treatment of skin with estrogen-like compounds reverses someof the changes associated with aging skin. Without being limited to aparticular theory, the topical administration of estradiol and estriolis believed to improve skin firmness and elasticity as well as reducewrinkle depth and pore sizes by stimulating collagen neogenesis. Thecomposition preferably includes between about 0.0001 w/w % to about 3.0w/w % of estradiol. For example, the effective amount of estradiol isabout 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.025, 0.05, 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0w/w % of the composition. Furthermore, the effective amount of estradiolis about 0.01 w/w % of the composition. The effective amount of estriolis preferably between about 0.01 to about 3.0 w/w %. For example, theamount of estriol is between about 0.1 to about 0.3 w/w %.

Also included in the pharmaceutical composition is an effective amountof hyaluronic acid. Without being limited to this mechanism, it has beendemonstrated that hyaluronic acid plays an important role in connectivetissues such as the skin. The dermis of the skin includes a network ofcollagen fibers within an interstitial substance composed largely ofhyaluronic acid. The elastic properties of hyaluronic acid offerresistance to compression, so that the skin protects underlyingstructures against damage. At the same time, hyaluronic acid allows thecollagen fibers to move easily through the interstitial space and allowscollagen fiber to deposit. As individuals age, the levels of hyaluronicacid in the skin diminish as the skin cells lose their ability toproduce hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid's absorption abilities andlarge molecular structure allow the epidermis to achieve greatersuppleness and proper skin plasticity. Typically, the amount ofhyaluronic acid in the disclosed compositions is between about 0.01 w/w% to about 50.0 w/w % of the formulation. The amount of hyaluronic acidcan be about 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0%, 3.5%,4.0% , 4.5%, 5%, 7.0%, 10, % 15%, 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50 w/w %. Forinstance, hyaluronic acid is present in an amount of about 0.2% w/w ofthe composition.

The pharmaceutical composition similarly includes an effective amount ofgreen tea extract. The antioxidant polyphenols in green tea extract arebelieved to reverse sun damage. The amount of green tea extract in theformulation is preferably between about 0.01 to 10.0 w/w %. The amountof green tea extract can be about 0.01, 0.05, 0.01, 0.2, 0.25, 0.4, 0.6,0.8, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, or 10.0 w/w %. Forexample, the amount of green tea extract is 0.2 w/w % of thecomposition.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition optionally includes aneffective amount of date palm extract. Hormones play a central role inskin appearance and are implicated in skin aging. Date palm kernel isrich in phytohormones and exhibits a significant anti-wrinkle effectwhen applied topically. The amount of date palm extract is preferablybetween about 0.01 and 25 w/w %. In a preferred embodiment, the datepalm extract is present in an amount of approximately 5.0 w/w % of theformulation. For instance, the amount of date palm extract is 0.01, 0.1,0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 7.0, 10, 15, 20, or 25 w/w % of the formulation.

In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition can include aneffective amount of ascorbic acid. Considering the apparent central rolethat reactive oxygen free-radicals play in the genesis of cutaneousphotoaging, it is believed that a topical free-radical scavenger wouldbe a useful in preventing and/or treating the signs of aging. Inaddition to the protection mediated against UV light by the ascorbicacid, ascorbic acid has been shown to produce stimulation of both Type Iand Type III collagen in a cultured human fibroblast model. Withoutbeing bound to a particular theory, it is hypothesized that L-ascorbicacid stimulates procollagen synthesis without appreciably alteringnoncollagen synthesis. Moreover, ascorbic acid may be an importantregulator of three different procollagen genes and works by promotinghydroxyproline formation and procollagen synthesis. Furthermore,L-ascorbic acid has also been shown to stimulate human fibroblastproliferation. The effective amount of ascorbic acid is preferablybetween 0.01 w/w % and 10.0 w/w % of the composition. For example, theeffective amount of ascorbic acid is about 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05,0.075, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, or 10.0w/w %.

In still another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition optionallyincludes an effective amount of a topical resurfacing agent. One exampleof a suitable topical resurfacing agent is glycolic acid. Without beinglimited to a particular mechanism, it is believed that glycolic acid, analpha hydroxy acid, is useful in treating skin aging by acting as anexfoliant to remove old, damaged cells on the top layer of skin and as aresult it smoothes and softens the skin, diminishes fine lines,decreases acne outbreaks, evens out coloration and lightenshyperpigmented areas. The effective amount of topical resurfacing agentis preferably between 1.0 w/w % and 20 w/w %. In a preferred embodiment,the effective amount of topical resurfacing agent is between about 10and 15 w/w % of the formulation. For instance, the amount of topicalresurfacing agent is 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 w/w % of the formulation.

In another embodiment, a method for promoting wound healing is provided.We have discovered that the administration of a composition comprisingthe therapeutic agents set forth above accelerates surface wound healingtime, improves the aesthetics of a scar, and promotes the maturation ofscars. As used herein, the term “wound” includes, without limitation, aninjury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery) thatinvolves laceration or breaking of a membrane and usually damage tounderlying tissues. The term “wound” further includes burns andpost-surgical incisions. The method includes topically administering acomposition comprising an effective amount of estradiol, estriol,hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract in amounts as set forth above atthe site of a wound. In a preferred embodiment, the composition furtherincludes an effective amount of ascorbic acid. In another embodiment,the composition includes an effective amount of date palm extract. Inyet another embodiment, the composition includes an effective amount ofdate palm extract and ascorbic acid.

In one embodiment, the composition is administered topically to theepidermis to promote wound healing. In another embodiment, the instantcomposition is administered topically to the vagina, vulva, or perineumto accelerate the healing of vaginal trauma. For example, the presentinvention is useful in treating trauma associated with an episiotomy orvaginal tearing associated with childbirth. Additionally, thecomposition can be applied to improve the surgical outcome of a patientundergoing pelvic, vulvar, and/or perineal surgery. The composition canbe used to improve prolapse and incontinence issues.

A method of augmenting plastic surgery is similarly provided. As usedherein, the phrase “plastic surgery” includes, without limitation,rhytidectomy and rhytidoplasty as well as more minor procedures such ascheek pad lifts (midface lift) and less invasive temporal lifts (lateralbrow lifts). Also included within the meaning of plastic surgery issurgery to the eye area such as blepharoplasty, Botox® (Botulinum ToxinA), cathopexy, chemical peel, treatment of dark undereye circles, fatgrafting, LASER resurfacing, micropigmentation, NLite LASER,PhotoDerm/FotoFacial, SOOF lift (sub-orbicularis oculi fatrepositioning), tattoo removal (cosmetic), and temporal lift. Alsoincluded within the meaning of “plastic surgery” is facial contouringsuch as buccal fat extraction, cheek augmentation, chin augmentation,facial liposuction, fat grafting, injectable fillers for tissueaugmentation, jaw augmentation or reduction, lip augmentation orreduction, and nose surgery. Facial rejuvenation procedures aresimilarly encompassed within the meaning of “plastic surgery” andinclude, without limitation, BOTOX®, brow and/or forehead lift, chemicalpeel, dermabrasion, face lift, fat grafting, injectable fillers, LASERresurfacing, lip lifting and rejuvenation, lip lifting and rejuvenation,microdermabrasion, nasolabial fold correction, PhotoDerm/FotoFacial,temporal lift, and APTOS® thread lift. Neck and skincare treatments aswell as other procedures designed to improve the youthful appearance ofan individual are similarly included within the meaning of “plasticsurgery.” Exemplary neck and skincare treatments include, withoutlimitation, BOTOX®, chemical peels, LASER resurfacing, neck lift (orplatysmaplasty), submental liposuction, acne scar removal, acnetreatment, color corrective cosmetics, physician skin care,hyperpigmentation removal, and microdermabrasion. Other procedures suchas micropigmentation, otoplasty, scar revision/keloid prevention, andtattoo removal are likewise included within the meaning of “plasticsurgery.”

The method of augmenting plastic surgery comprises topicallyadministering to an individual having plastic surgery an effectiveamount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising estriol, estradiol,hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract formulated with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier as will be described in greaterdetail below. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositionfurther includes an effective amount of date palm extract and/orascorbic acid. It will be appreciated that the pharmaceuticalcomposition can be topically applied pre-operatively, substantiallycontemporaneously with the surgery, and/or post-operatively. As will bedescribed in greater detail below, the composition can be applieddirectly to the skin as a cream, gel, ointment, lotion, salve, oraerosol spray. In certain embodiments, the mode of delivery of thecarrier containing the therapeutic agents includes but is not limited toa smear, spray, a time-release patch, a liquid absorbed wipe, andcombinations thereof. In one embodiment, the therapeutic agentsincluding estrogens, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, and optionallydate palm extract with or without ascorbic acid can be applied to abandage either directly or in a carrier. The bandages may be prepareddamp or dry, wherein the therapeutic agents are in a lyophilized form onthe bandage. The carriers of the compositions of the present inventionmay comprise semi-solid and gel-like vehicles that include a polymerthickener, water, preservatives, active surfactants or emulsifiers,antioxidants, sun screens, and a solvent or mixed solvent system.Osborne, U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,560, issued on Jan. 26, 1999, herebyincorporated by reference, discusses a number of different carriercombinations which can aid in the exposure of the skin to a medicament.In certain embodiments, the carrier is a silicone-impregnated tape ordressing such as Silicone N-A from Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd.(Ascot, Windsor and Maidenhead, UK).

Without being bound to a particular theory, it is believed that thedisclosed compositions promote collagen neogenesis and reduces tissuesinflammation, and improves tissue hydration. As such, the compositionsare useful to treat a number of skin conditions in addition to treatingsymptoms of skin aging. For example, as described above, the presentcompositions can be employed to promote surface wound healing associatedwith surgery, trauma, and burns. More particularly, the promotion ofscar care, aesthetic improvement of post-operative scar formation, andmaturation of wound healing are specifically contemplated. Similarly,the compositions provide a method of reducing scars, preventing keloidscar formation, and accelerating wound healing times. Additionally, thecompositions provide a method of reducing the appearance of stretchmarks on the surface of the skin.

A composition and method for the treatment of rosacea is provided.Rosacea is a chronic skill disease that can cause red patches, lines,and small pimples on the face, increased heat, increased capillaries, aswell as burning and irritation in the eyes and eyelids. Untreatedrosacea can progress and eventually cause larger, disfiguring bumps onthe nose, rhinophyma, and papules on the face and serious eye problems.The composition includes an effective amount of estradiol, estriol,hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, and optionally, ascorbic acid withor without date palm extract in the amounts detailed above and apharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A method of treating an individualsuffering from rosacea includes identifying an individual suffering fromrosacea and topically administering to that individual an effectiveamount of the disclosed composition.

Formulations

For the treatment of rhytids or skin wrinkles, a preferred method ofadministration of the pharmaceutical and cosmetic composition is bytopical application. The topical pharmaceutical and cosmeticcompositions of the present invention may be made into a wide variety ofproduct types. These include, but are not limited to lotions, creams,beach oils, gels, sticks, sprays, ointments, pastes, mousses andcosmetics. These product types may comprise several types ofpharmaceutical or cosmetic carrier systems including, but not limited tosolutions, emulsions, gels and solids. The topical pharmaceutical andcosmetic compositions of the present invention formulated as solutionstypically include a pharmaceutically-acceptable aqueous or organicsolvent. The terms “pharmaceutically-acceptable aqueous solvent” and“pharmaceutically-acceptable organic solvent” refer to a solvent whichis capable of having dissolved therein the anti-wrinkle estriol andestradiol, and possesses acceptable safety properties (e.g., irritationand sensitization characteristics). One example of a suitablepharmaceutically acceptable aqueous solvent is distilled water. Examplesof a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable organic solvent include, forexample, monohydric alcohols, such as ethanol, and polyhydric alcohols,such as glycols. If the topical pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositionsof the present disclosure are formulated as an aerosol and applied tothe skin as a spray-on, a propellant is added to a solution composition.Examples of propellants useful herein include, but are not limited to,the chlorinated, fluorinated and chlorofluorinated lower molecularweight hydrocarbons. A more complete disclosure of propellants usefulherein can be found in Sagarin, Cosmetics Science and Technology, 2ndEdition, Vol. 2, pp. 443-465 (1972), hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

In one embodiment, topical pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions ofthe present invention further comprise a suitable amount of a topicalpharmaceutical and cosmetically-acceptable emollient. As used herein,“emollients” refer to materials used for the prevention or relief ofdryness, as well as for the protection of the skin. Wide varieties ofsuitable emollients are known and may be used herein. Sagarin,Cosmetics, Science and Technology, 2nd Edition, Vol. 1, pp. 32-43(1972), contains numerous examples of suitable materials. Examples ofclasses of useful emollients include hydrocarbon oils and waxes such asmineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin, ceresin, ozokerite, microcrystallinewax, polyethylene, and perhydrosqualene; silicone oil, such as dimethylpolysiloxanes, methylphenyl polysiloxanes, and water-soluble andalcohol-soluble silicone glycol copolymers. Other suitable emollientsinclude triglyceride esters such as vegetable and animal fats and oilsincluding castor oil, safflower oil, cotton seed oil, corn oil, oliveoil, cod liver oil, almond oil, avocado oil, palm oil, sesame oil, andsoybean oil; acetoglyceride esters, such as acetylated monoglycerides;ethoxylated glycerides, such as ethoxylated glycerylmonostearate; alkylesters of fatty acids including methyl, isopropyl, and butyl esters offatty acids, alkyl esters including hexyl laurate, isohexyl laurate,iso-hexyl palmitate, isopropyl palmitate, decyl oleate, isodecyl oleate,hexadecyl stearate, decyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, diisopropyladipate, dissohexyl adipate, di-hexyldecyl adipate, di-isopropylsebacate, lauryl lactate, myristyl lactate, and cetyl lactate; andalkenyl esters of fatty acids such as oleyl myristate, oleyl stearate,and oleyl oleate. Other suitable classes of emollients include fattyacids such as pelargonic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic,isostearic, hydroxystearic, oleic, linoleic, ricinoleic, arachidic,behenic, and erucic acids.; fatty alcohols such as lauryl, myristyl,cetyl, hexadecyl, stearyl, isostearyl, hydroxystearyl, oleyl,ricinoleyl, behenyl, and erucyl alcohols, as well as 2-octyl dodecanol;fatty alcohol ethers; ethoxylated fatty alcohols; ether-esters such asfatty acid esters of ethoxylated fatty alcohols; lanolin and derivativesincluding lanolin oil, lanolin wax, lanolin alcohols, lanolin fattyacids, isopropyllanolate, ethoxylated lanolin, ethoxylated lanolinalcohols, ethoxolated cholesterol, propoxylated lanolin alcohols,acetylated lanolin, acetylated lanolin alcohols, lanolin alcoholslinoleate, lanolin alcohols recinoleate, acetate of lanolin alcoholsrecinoleate, acetate of lanolin alcohols recinoleate, acetate ofethoxylated alcohols esters, hydrogenolysis of lanolin, ethoxylatedhydrogenated lanolin, ethoxylated sorbitol lanolin, and liquid andsemisolid lanolin absorption bases are illustrative of emollientsderived from lanolin; polyhydric alcohols and polyether derivatives suchas propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycols 2000 and4000, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene glycols, polyoxypropylenepolyoxyethylene glycols, glycerol, sorbitol, ethoxylated sorbitol,hydroxypropylsorbitol, polyethylene glycols 200-6000, methoxypolyethylene glycols 350, 550, 750, 2000 and 5000, poly[ethyleneoxide]homopolymers (100,000-5,000,000), polyalkylene glycols andderivatives, hexylene glycol(2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol), 1,3-butyleneglycol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, ethohexadiol USP (2-ethyl,3-hexanediol),C15-C18 vicinal glycol, and polyoxypropylene derivatives oftrimethylolpropane; polydydric alcohol esters such as ethylene glycolmono-and di-fatty acid esters, diethylene glycol mono- and di-fatty acidesters, polyethylene glycol (200-6000) mono-and di-fatty acid esters,propylene glycol mono- and di-fatty esters, polypropylene glycol 2000monooleate, polypropylene glycol 2000 monostearate, ethoxylatedpropyleneglycol monostearate, glyceryl mono- and di-fatty acid esters,polyglycerol poly-fatty acid esters, ethoxylated glyceryl monostearate,1,3-butylene glycolmonostearate, 1,3-butylene glycol distearate,polyoxyethylene polyol fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid esters, andpolyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters; wax esters such as beeswax,spermaceti, myristyl myristate and stearyl stearate; beeswaxderivatives, e.g., polyoxyethylene sorbitol beeswax; vegetable waxesincluding carnauba and candelilla waxes; and phospholipids, such aslecithin and derivatives; sterols including, for example, cholesteroland cholesterol fatty acid esters; amides such as fatty acid amides,ethoxylated fatty acid amides and solid fatty acid alkanolamides.Particularly useful emollients which provide skin conditioning areglycerol, hexanetriol, butanetriol, lactic acid and its salts, urea,pyrrolidone carboxylic acid and its salts, amino acids, guanidine,diglycerol and triglycerol.

Alternatively, the composition can be formulated as a lotion. A lotioncan be made from a solution carrier system. Lotions typically comprisefrom about 0.01 to about 3.0 w/w % estriol, between about 0.0001 toabout 3.0 w/w %, for example 0.01 w/w % of estradiol, from about 0.01%to about 50 w/w %, for example about 0.2 w/w %, of hyaluronic acid, andbetween about 0.01 and 10.0 w/w % of green tea extract. In a preferredembodiment, the lotion further includes between about 0.01 to about 25w/w % of date palm extract. In a particularly preferred embodiment, thelotion can include between about 0.01 to about 10.0 w/w % of ascorbicacid, for example 0.1 w/w %. In some embodiments, the lotion includesfrom about 1% to about 20%, for example, from about 5% to about 10%, ofan emollient; and from about 50% to about 90%, for example, from about60% to about 80% of water.

Another type of product that may be formulated from a solution carriersystem is a cream. A cream of the present disclosure comprises fromabout 0.01 to about 3.0 w/w % estriol, between about 0.0001 to about 3.0w/w %, for example, 0.01 w/w % of estradiol, from about 0.01 to about 50w/w %, for example, about 0.2 w/w %, of hyaluronic acid, and betweenabout 0.01 and 10.0 w/w % of green tea extract, for example 0.2 w/w %;from about 5% to about 50%, for example, from about 10% to about 20%, ofan emollient, and from about 45% to about 85%, preferably from about 50%to about 75% of water. In a preferred embodiment, the cream furtherincludes between about 0.01 to about 25 w/w % of date palm extract. In aparticularly preferred embodiment, the lotion can include between about0.01 to about 10.0 w/w % of ascorbic acid.

Yet another type of product that may be formulated from a solutioncarrier system is an ointment. An ointment can comprise a simple base ofanimal or vegetable oils or semi-solid hydrocarbons (oleaginous).Ointments can also include absorption ointment bases which absorb waterto form emulsions. Optionally, the ointment carriers may be watersoluble. An ointment can include from about 2% to about 10% of anemollient plus from about 0.1% to about 2% of a thickening agent.Examples of suitable thickening agents include: cellulose derivatives(e.g., methyl cellulose and hydroxy propylmethylcellulose), synthetichigh molecular weight polymers (e.g., carboxyvinyl polymer and polyvinylalcohol), plant hydrocolloids (e.g., karaya gum and tragacanth gum),clay thickeners (e.g., colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate andbentonite), and carboxyvinyl polymers (CARBOPOLS®; sold by B. F.Goodrich Company, such polymers are described in detail in Brown, U.S.Pat. No. 2,798,053, issued Jul. 2, 1957). A more complete disclosure ofthickening agents useful herein can be found in Sagarin, Cosmetics,Science and Technology, 2nd Edition, Vol. 1, pp. 72-73 (1972). If thecarrier is formulated as an emulsion, from about 1% to about 10%, forinstance, from about 2% to about 5%, of the carrier system comprises anemulsifier. Suitable emulsifiers include nonionic, anionic or cationicemulsifiers. Exemplary emulsifiers are disclosed in, for example,McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers, North American Edition, pages317-324 (1986). Preferred emulsifiers are anionic or nonionic, althoughother types can also be employed.

Lotions and creams can be formulated as emulsions as well as solutions.Typically, such lotions comprise from about 0.01 to about 3.0 w/w %estriol, for example, 0.2 w/w %, between about 0.0001 to about 3.0 w/w%, preferably 0.01 w/w % of estradiol, from about 0.1 to about 50 w/w %,more preferably about 0.2 w/w %, of hyaluronic acid, and between about0.01 and 10.0 w/w % of green tea extract; from about 1% to about 20%,for example, from about 5% to about 10%, of an emollient; from about 25%to about 75%, for instance, from about 45% to about 95%, water; and fromabout 0.1% to about 10%, for example, from about 0.5% to about 5%, of anemulsifier. Such creams would typically comprise from about 0.01 toabout 3.0 w/w % estriol, for instance, 0.2 w/w %, between about 0.0001to about 3.0 w/w %, for instance, 0.01 w/w % of estradiol, from about0.01 to about 50 w/w %, for example, about 0.2 w/w %, of hyaluronicacid, and between about 0.01 and 10.0 w/w % of green tea extract of theanti-skin aging composition; from about 1% to about 20%, for example,from about 5% to about 10%, of an emollient; from about 20% to about80%, for instance, from about 30% to about 70%, water; and from about 1%to about 10%, for example, from about 2% to about 5%, of an emulsifier.In a preferred embodiment, the cream further includes between about 0.01to about 25 w/w % of date palm extract. In a particularly preferredembodiment, the cream can include between about 0.01 to about 10.0 w/w %of ascorbic acid.

Single emulsion skin care preparations, such as lotions and creams, ofthe oil-in-water type and water-in-oil type are well known in thecosmetic arts and are useful in the present embodiments. One example ofa suitable emulsion for use in the present compositions is anoil-in-water emulsion such as Dermabase Cream™ (Paddock Laboratories,Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.). Multiphase emulsion compositions, such as thewater-in-oil-in water type are also useful in the present embodiments.In general, such single or multiphase emulsions contain water,emollients and emulsifiers as essential ingredients. Triple emulsioncarrier systems comprising an oil-in-water-in-silicone fluid emulsioncomposition are also useful in the present embodiments.

Another emulsion carrier system useful in the topical pharmaceutical andcosmetic compositions of the present disclosure is a microemulsioncarrier system. Such a system preferably comprises from about 9% toabout 15% squalane; from about 25% to about 40% silicone oil; from about8% to about 20% of a fatty alcohol; from about 15% to about 30% ofpolyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-fatty acid (commercially available underthe trade name Tweens) or other nonionics; and from about 7% to about20% water. This carrier system is combined with the therapeutic agentsdescribed above.

If the topical pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions of the presentdisclosure are formulated as a gel or a cosmetic stick, a suitableamount of a thickening agent, as disclosed supra, is added to a cream orlotion formulation. The topical pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositionsof the present disclosure may also be formulated as makeup products suchas foundations, blush, and lipstick and can contain conventionalcosmetic adjuvants, such as dyes, opacifiers, pigments and perfumes.Foundations are solution or lotion-based with appropriate amounts ofthickeners such as algin, xanthan gum, cellulose gum, cocamide DEA, guargum lanolin alcohol, paraffin, and propylene glycol, pigments includingultramarine blue, titanium dioxide, and carmine, colorants such as FD&CRed No. 40 and FD&C Yellow No. 5, moisturizers, and fragrance.Optionally, the foundation can include a sunscreen agent. The topicalpharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions of the present disclosure maycontain, in addition to the aforementioned components, a wide variety ofadditional oil-soluble materials and/or water-soluble materialsconventionally used in topical compositions, at their establishedlevels. Various water-soluble materials may also be present in thecompositions of this invention. These include humectants, such asglycerol, sorbitol, propylene glycol, alkoxylated glucose andhexanetriol, ethyl cellulose, polyvinylalcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose,vegetable gums and clays such as VEEGUM® (magnesium aluminum silicate,R. T. Vanderbilt, Inc.); proteins and polypeptides, preservatives suchas the methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl esters of hydroxybenzoic acid(Parabens® Mallinckrodt Chemical Corporation), EDTA,methylisothiazolinone and imidazolidinyl ureas (Germall 115®—SuttonLaboratories); and an alkaline agent such as sodium hydroxide orpotassium hydroxide to neutralize, if desired, part of the fatty acidsor thickener which may be present.

The topical pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions of the presentdisclosure can also include a safe and effective amount of a penetrationenhancing agent. A preferred amount of penetration enhancing agent isfrom about 1% to about 5% of the composition. Other conventional skincare product additives may also be included in the compositions of thepresent invention. For example, collagen, elastin, hydrolysates,primrose oil, jojoba oil, epidermal growth factor, soybean saponins,mucopolysaccharides, and mixtures thereof may be used. Various vitaminscan also be included in the compositions of the present invention. Forexample, Vitamin A, and derivatives thereof, Vitamin B2, biotin,pantothenic, Vitamin D, and mixtures thereof can be used.

In some embodiments, the composition comprising estradiol, estriol,hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract is incorporated into anti-wrinkleskin cleaning compositions. The skin cleaning compositions comprise acosmetically acceptable surfactant in addition to the anti-wrinklemulti-component formulation including estradiol, estriol, hyaluronicacid, and green tea extract. The anti-wrinkle multi-componentformulation can, in some embodiments, additionally include an effectiveamount of ascorbic acid, date palm extract, or combinations thereof. Theterm “cosmetically-acceptable surfactant” refers to a surfactant whichis not only an effective skin cleanser, but also can be used withoutundue toxicity, irritation, allergic response, and the like.Furthermore, the surfactant should be capable of being commingled withthe anti-wrinkle components in a manner such that there is nointeraction which would substantially reduce the efficacy of thecomposition for treating wrinkles in mammalian skin. In addition to thecosmetically effective amounts of the active ingredients, the skincleaning compositions of the present disclosure contain from about 1% toabout 90%, preferably from about 5% to about 10%, of acosmetically-acceptable surfactant. The physical form of the skincleansing compositions is not critical. The compositions can be, forexample, formulated as toilet bars, liquids, pastes, or mousses. Toiletbars are most preferred since this is the form of cleansing agent mostcommonly used to wash the skin. The surfactant component of thedisclosed compositions is selected from the group consisting of anionic,nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and ampholytic surfactants, as wellas mixtures of these surfactants. Such surfactants are well known tothose skilled in the detergency art. The cleaning compositions of thepresent disclosure can optionally contain, at their art-establishedlevels, materials which are conventionally used in skin cleansingcompositions.

“Cosmetically-acceptable” carrier refers to a carrier that can be usedwithout undue toxicity, skin irritation, allergic response, and thelike. Furthermore, the cosmetically acceptable carrier should be capableof being commingled with the anti-wrinkle active ingredients in a mannersuch that there is no interaction which would substantially reduce theefficacy of the composition for treating wrinkles in mammalian skin.

Other skin care products for the treatment of skin wrinkles may containcombinations of additional active ingredients. Such combinationsinclude, for example, sunscreens and sunblocks. Optimum regulation ofskin wrinkling resulting from exposure to U.V. light can be obtained byusing a combination of the composition comprising estriol, estradiol,hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract of the present invention togetherwith sunscreens or sunblocks. Useful sunblocks include, for example,zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Photo damage is a predominant cause ofskin wrinkling. Thus, for purposes of wrinkle prevention, thecombination of the disclosed compositions with a UVA and/or UVBsunscreen would be most desirable. The inclusion of sunscreens incompositions of the present invention will provide immediate protectionagainst acute UV damage. Thus, the sunscreen will prevent furtherwrinkle formation caused by UV radiation, while the anti-wrinkle agentstreat existing wrinkles and skin atrophy.

A wide variety of conventional sunscreening agents are suitable for usein combination with the anti-wrinkle formulations. Sagarin, et al., atChapter VII, pages 189 et seq., of Cosmetics Science and Technology,disclose numerous suitable agents. Specific suitable sunscreening agentsinclude, for example: p-aminobenzoic acid, its salts and its derivatives(ethyl, iso-butyl, glyceryl esters; p-dimethylaminobenzoic acid);anthranilates (i.e., o-aminobenzoates; methyl, menthyl, phenyl, benzyl,phenylethyl, linalyl, terpinyl, and cyclohexenyl esters); salicylates(amyl, phenyl, benzyl, menthyl, glyceryl, and dipropylene glycolesters); cinnamic acid derivatives (methyl and benzyl esters,.alpha.-phenyl cinnamonitrile; butyl cinnamoyl pyruvate);dihydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (umbelliferone, methyl umbelliferone,methylacetoumbelliferone); trihydroxycinnamic acid derivatives(esculetin, methylesculetin, daphnetin, and the glucosides, esculin anddaphnin); hydrocarbons (diphenylbutadiene, stilbene); dibenzalacetoneand benzalacetophenone; naphtholsulfonates (sodium salts of2-naphthol-3,6-disulfonic and of 2-naphthol-6,8-disulfonic acids);dihydroxynaphthoic acid and its salts; o- andp-hydroxybiphenyidisulfonates; (7-hydroxy, 7-methyl, 3-phenyl);diazoles(2-acetyl-3-bromoindazole, phenyl benzoxazole, methylnaphthoxazole, various aryl benzothiazoles); quinine salts (bisulfate,sulfate, chloride, oleate, and tannate); quinoline derivatives(8-hydroxyquinoline salts, 2-phenylquinoline); hydroxy- ormethoxy-substituted benzophenones; uric and vilouric acids; tannic acidand its derivatives (e.g., hexaethylether); (butyl carbotol)(6-propylpiperonyl)ether; hydroquinone; benzophenones (oxybenzene, sulisobenzone,dioxybenzone, benzoresorcinol, 2,2′,4,4′tetrahydroxy-benzophenone,2,2′-dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxybenzophenone, octabenzone;4-isopropyidibenzoyl-methane; butylmethoxy dibenzoylmethane; etocrylene;and 4-isopropyl-dibenzoylmethane). Mixtures of sunscreen compounds maybe used to optimize the desired sunscreen properties of the formulation.A safe and effective amount of sunscreen may be used in the compositionsof the present invention. The sun-screening agent must be compatiblewith the anti-wrinkle agents. Generally the composition may comprisefrom about 1% to about 20%, preferably from about 2% to about 10%, of asunscreening agent. Exact amounts will vary depending upon the sunscreenchosen and the desired Sun Protection Factor (SPF). An agent may also beadded to any of the compositions of the present invention to improve theskin substantivity of those compositions, particularly to enhance theirresistance to being washed off by water, or rubbed off

The disclosed compositions can also include anti-oxidants or freeradical scavengers. In a preferred anti-aging composition of the presentinvention, an antioxidant/radical scavenger is included as an activeagent along with the estrogen, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extractcomponents. The inclusion of an anti-oxidant/radical scavenger increasesthe wrinkle treating benefits of the composition. A safe and effectiveamount of an anti-oxidant/radical scavenger may be added to thecompositions of the present invention, preferably from about 0.1% toabout 10%, more preferably from about 1% to about 5%, of thecomposition. Antioxidants/radical scavengers such as ascorbic acid(vitamin C) and its salts, tocopherol (vitamin E), tocopherol sorbate,other esters of tocopherol, butylated hydroxy benzoic acids and theirsalts, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2 carboxylic acid(commercially available under the tradename Trolox®), gallic acid andits alkyl esters, especially propyl gallate, uric acid and its salts andalkyl esters, sorbic acid and its salts, the ascorbyl esters of fattyacids, amines (e.g., N,N diethylhydroxylamine, amino-guanidine),sulfhydryl compounds (e.g., glutathione), and dihydroxy fumaric acid andits salts maybe used.

In another embodiment, the disclosed compositions include a chelatingagent as an active agent along with the anti-aging estrogens, hyaluronicacid, and green tea extract. As used herein, “chelating agent” means anactive agent capable of removing a metal ion from a system by forming acomplex so that the metal ion cannot readily participate in or catalyzechemical reactions. The inclusion of a chelating agent increases theanti-aging benefits of the composition. A safe and effective amount of achelating agent maybe added to the compositions of the presentinvention, for example, from about 0.1% to about 10%, specifically fromabout 1% to about 5%, of the composition. Preferred chelators useful incompositions of the present invention are furildioxime and derivativesthereof, more preferably amphi-2-furildioxime.

In another embodiment, the disclosed anti-skin aging compositions caninclude a retinoid, preferably retinoic acid, as an active agent. A safeand effective amount of a retinoid may be added to the compositions ofthe present invention, preferably from about 0.001% to about 2%, morepreferably from about 0.01% to about 1% of the composition. As usedherein, “retinoid” includes all natural and/or synthetic analogs ofVitamin A or retinol-like compounds which possess the biologicalactivity of Vitamin A in the skin as well as the geometric isomers andstereoisomers of these compounds, such as all-trans retinoic acid and13-cis-retinoic acid.

The present disclosure further relates to a method for treating signs ofaging in mammalian skin. As used herein, “skin aging” refers to skinconditions associated with aged skin including, without limitation,wrinkles, rhytids, sun damage, dull appearance of the skin, saggingskin, jowls, keratosis, melasma, and hyperpigmentation. Such a methodcomprises treating the skin with an effective amount of a compositioncomprising estriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract asdefined above. The amount of therapeutic agents and frequency oftreatment will vary widely depending upon the level of wrinkling alreadyin existence in the subject, the rate of further wrinkle formation, andthe level of regulation desired.

The present disclosure further provides a method for treatingphoto-aging. As used herein, the term “photo-aging” includes, withoutlimitation, aging of the skin associated with exposure to the sun orother ultraviolet energy sources. Symptoms of photo-aging include, forexample, solar lentigo (age spots), solar keratoses, anddermatoheliosis. The method of treating photo-aging includes topicallyadministering to an individual in need thereof a composition comprisingan effective amount of a composition comprising estriol, estradiol,hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract as defined above. The method canoptionally include the administration of an effective amount of ascorbicacid and/or date palm extract.

One method of treating the skin is via topical application of a safe andeffective amount of the therapeutic agents to treat wrinkles inmammalian skin. The frequency of topical application to the skin canvary widely, depending upon personal needs, but it is suggested as anexample that topical application range from about once per week to about10 times daily, preferably from about twice per week to about 4 timesdaily, more preferably from about 3 times a week to about twice daily,most preferably about once per day. The period of topical applicationwould preferably be over a period of from about one month to about tenyears.

Advantageously, the present disclosure also provides kits for use by aconsumer for treating skin aging. The kits comprise a) a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising effective amounts of estradiol, estriol,hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract and a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier; and b) instructions describing a method of using thepharmaceutical composition for treating skin wrinkles, other conditionsassociated with skin aging, and/or wound healing. In some embodiments,the kit also includes an effective amount of glycolic acid. In anotherembodiment, the pharmaceutical composition further includes an effectiveamount of ascorbic acid, date palm extract, or combinations thereof

A “kit” as used in the instant application includes a container forcontaining the pharmaceutical compositions and may also include dividedcontainers such as a divided bottle or a divided foil packet. Thecontainer can be in any conventional shape or form as known in the artwhich is made of a pharmaceutically acceptable material, for example apaper or cardboard box, a glass or plastic bottle or jar, a re-sealablebag (for example, to hold a “refill” of tablets for placement into adifferent container), or a blister pack with individual doses forpressing out of the pack according to a therapeutic schedule. Thecontainer employed can depend on the exact dosage form involved, forexample a conventional cardboard box would not generally be used to holda liquid suspension. It is feasible that more than one container can beused together in a single package to market a single dosage form. Forexample, tablets may be contained in a bottle which is in turn containedwithin a box.

In another embodiment, a composition and method for promoting urogenitalfunction is provided. As used herein, the phrase “promoting urogenitalfunction” includes the treatment of stress incontinence, urgeincontinence, pelvic floor weakness, interstitial cystitis, loss ofglycoamino glycan, and vaginal and vulvar atrophy including itching,burning, dryness in or around the vagina, difficulty or burning onurination, particularly in peri-menopausal or post-menopausal women.Also included within the meaning of “promoting urogenital function” isthe reduction of moderate or severe menopausal symptoms including warmthin the face, neck, and chest, or sudden intense episodes of heat andsweating. The disclosed compositions are similarly useful in treatingcertain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produceenough estrogen naturally. The treatment of certain types of abnormalvaginal bleeding due to hormonal imbalance, cancers, and osteoporosis islikewise contemplated herein. The promotion of urogenital functionfurther includes the improvement of surgical outcome for pelvic, vulva,and perineal surgery as well as post-surgical outcome for prolapse andurinary incontinence.

The method of promoting urogenital function includes administeringintravaginally an effective dose of a composition comprising aneffective amount of estriol, estradiol, green tea extract, andhyaluronic acid. In some embodiments, the composition further includesan effective amount of ascorbic acid, date palm extract, or combinationsthereof. It is understood that the dosage, regimen, and mode ofadministration of these therapeutic agents will vary according to themalady and the individual being treated and will be subject to thejudgment of the medical practitioner involved. It is preferred that theadministration of the therapeutic agents begin at a low dose and beincreased until the desired effects are achieved. For effectiveadministration of the therapeutic agents, the composition comprisingestriol, estradiol, green tea extract, hyaluronic acid, and optionally,ascorbic acid, date palm extract, or combinations thereof with apharmaceutical carrier is formulated as a lotion, cream, foam,suspension, solution, or suppository. In a preferred embodiment, thetherapeutic agents are formulated with a pharmaceutical carrier as acream. Preferably, an individual presenting with impaired urogenitalfunction is administered 0.5 grams, 1 gram, 2 grams, 3 grams, 4 grams or5 grams of cream comprising the therapeutic agents in the amountsdetailed below. Administration can be once a day, once every other day,or once a week, depending upon the malady to be treated and severitythereof. In a preferred embodiment, the individual is administered thedisclosed composition between three and four times a week until thesymptoms are resolved.

The composition for promoting urogenital function includes 0.01 to about3.0 w/w % estriol, for example 0.01 w/w % estriol, between about 0.0001to about 3.0 w/w %, preferably 0.2 w/w % of estradiol, from about 0.01to about 50 w/w %, more preferably between about 0.1 to about 5.0 w/w %,of hyaluronic acid, and between about 0.01 and 10.0 w/w % of green teaextract. Optionally, the composition further includes between about 0.01to about 25 w/w % of date palm extract. In a particularly preferredembodiment, the composition can include between about 0.01 to about 10.0w/w % of ascorbic acid. The therapeutic agents including estriol andestradiol can be administered according to the regimens and doses knownin the art. In a preferred embodiment, the therapeutic agents areformulated as a cream adapted for delivery into the vagina and furtherinclude from about 5% to about 50%, preferably from about 10% to about20%, of an emollient, and from about 45% to about 85%, preferably fromabout 50% to about 75%, water. Alternatively, the composition can beformulated as a suppository. In addition to the active therapeuticagents discussed above, suppository formulations can include traditionalmaterials such as cocoa butter, with or without the addition of waxes toalter the suppository's melting point, and glycerin. Water solublesuppository bases, such as polyethylene glycols of various molecularweights, are likewise suitable for use in formulating the therapeuticagents for vaginal delivery.

Examples

The following examples teach various protocols for treating signs andsymptoms of skin aging with the disclosed anti-aging compositions.Additionally, the examples teach the use of the disclosed compositionsfor promoting wound healing, reducing the signs of photo-aging, treatingrosacea, and improving urogenital function. These examples areillustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.The treatment methods described below can be optimized using empiricaltechniques well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover,artisans of ordinary skill would be able to use the teachings describedin the following examples to practice the full scope of the claims.

Example 1 Clinical Trial Relating to the Administration of Topical Creamto Treat Symptoms of Aging

To study the effects of estriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid, and greentea extract on human skin, histological changes, including elasticityand epidermal and dermal thickness as well as clinical changes in skinappearance were evaluated. Additionally, as will be described in greaterdetail with reference to Example 2, systemic hormonal levels of estrioland estradiol were measured.

Twelve patients were enrolled in the study, including three males andnine females. The patients' ages range from about 38 to about 74 yearsof age with moderate to severe clinical signs of facial aging. Patientswere screened for contraindications to estrogen and any patient with ahistory of breast cancer or melanoma were excluded from the study.

Prior to initiation of treatment, patients underwent a hairline skinbiopsy to evaluate their baseline epidermal and dermal thickness andskin architectural characteristics. Standardized high-resolution photosof the facial rhytids were obtained. A topical formulation comprising0.02 w/w % estriol, 0.01 w/w % estradiol, and 0.2% hyaluronic acid wasprofessionally compounded in Dermabase Cream™ (Paddock Laboratories,Minneapolis, Minn.) as a white cream, which is stable at roomtemperature. Estriol and estradiol are commercially available from, forexample, Gallieop Pharmaceutical of Minnesota. The hyaluronic acid isavailable through, for example, Spectrum Chemical of Texas. Theformulation also included 0.2 w/w % green tea extract.

Patients were instructed to apply the cream to their entire face andhands daily. The treatment continues for four months. At the end of thefour month clinical trial, punch biopsies were performed and changes indermal and epidermal thickness and vascularity were evaluated.Specifically, changes in epidermal thickness, collagen density, elasticfibers, keratosis, cellular atypia and rete peg patterns were noted.High resolution photographs were taken for comparison. Facial maskdeterminations of skin changes were also performed.

In addition to histological analysis, the impact of the composition inreducing signs of aging was evaluated clinically. Turning to theFigures, FIG. 1 represents a photograph of a patient taken at thebeginning of the clinical trial. Notably, the patient presented withmultiple rhytids, particularly around the eye area. Additionally, sundamage, solar lentigo, loss of elasticity, and areas of keratoses wereobserved on the patient's face. At the conclusion of the four monthclinical trial, a reduction in wrinkle depth, improvement in skin tone,reduction of facial rhytids, diminished areas of solar lentigos, andimporvemtn in skin turgor and tightening of the pores of the wereobserved as evidenced in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a photograph of the samepatient in FIG. 1 upon completion of the clinical trial. The topicaladministration of the cream comprising estradiol, estriol, hyaluronicacid, and green tea extract on facial skin results in the reduction inwrinkle numbers and depth. Clinically, an improvement in skin thicknesswas also observed.

The composition was also applied to the patients' hands. FIG. 3 is aphotograph of a patient's hand at the beginning of the clinical trial.Solar lentigos, sunspots, and keratoses associated with photo-aging areevident. At the completion of the four month clinical trials, the handsof individuals reflect a marked reduction in the number of solarlentigos, an improvement in the overall color and elasticity of theskin, and reduction of keratoses as seen in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is aphotograph of the hands in FIG. 3 after four months of applying thecream comprising estriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid, and green teaextract.

Example 2 In Vitro Percutaneous Absorption of Topical EstrogenAnti-Aging Formulations in Human Skin

In vitro percutaneous absorption and skin bioavailability ofradiolabeled topical estrogen skin anti-aging formulations in intacthuman cadaver skin versus human facelift skin were evaluated. Cumulativetransdermal absorption of radiolabeled estradiol and estriol weremeasured at 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Tissue compartment (epidermis,dermis) recovery was measured at 24 hours.

The experimental design for the in vitro percutaneous studies isoutlined in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Experimental design for skin penetration studies Number of DonorSkin Samples 1 Hr 6 Hr 24 Hr Cadaver-female 3-6 3 3 3T Facelift-Face 3-63 3 3T Facelift-Neck 3-6 3 3 3T 3 (Res Sample) T (Tissue Compartments)

Human cadaver skin was obtained from a single female donor. The skin wasdermatomed to approximately 300 micron thickness. Skin was excluded ifit is damaged, has irregularities (for example, scar tissue, holes,birthmarks, etc.) or was from donors with an infectious disease. Skinsamples were frozen until use. Cadaver skin specimens were thawedovernight in the refrigerator in plastic sealed bags prior to theexperiment. Freshly excised human skin from the face or neck wasobtained from cosmetic surgery procedures. The skin was stored in gauzemoistened with isotonic phosphate buffered saline and kept cold duringtransport. Skin specimens were stored in the moistened gauze andrefrigerated until use. A representative 4 mm skin biopsy was obtainedfrom the donor skin and processed for Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E)staining.

Test formulations comprising 0.1 w/w % estriol, 0.02 w/w % of estradiol,0.2 w/w % of hyaluronic acid, and 0.2 w/w % of green tea extract werespiked with radiolabeled estradiol prior to the experiment. This wasaccomplished by diluting the radiolabeled compound in solvent(toluene:ethanol (9:1)) to a concentration of 1 mCi/ml. The radiolabelwas aliquotted to obtain approximately 50-100 μCi for each formulationand then dried under nitrogen gas. The radiolabel was then admixed withthe test formulation with spatulation by geometric dilution: 150 mg ofthe formulation was applied to the radiolabel and spatulated, followedby 300 mg of formulation, followed by the balance of the weight toachieve a total of 1.0 gram of spiked formulation.

More particularly, in each of the skin penetration studies, 1 gram ofcold formulation was spiked with radiolabeled estriol or estradiol and12 mg of the spiked formulation was applied to each chamber. Totalradioactivity (DPM) of the formulation applied to each cell wasdetermined. Based upon the specific activity of the radioisotopiccompound, the total concentration of the radiochemical compound wascalculated as follows:

Estriol: 12 mg formulation applied contains: 24 micrograms cold estriol;0.00435 micrograms radiolabeled estriol.

Estradiol: 12 mg applied contains 0.60 micrograms cold estradiol;0.003578 micrograms radiolabeled estradiol.

The total contribution of the radiochemical compound did notsignificantly affect the concentration of the estriol or estradiol inthe test formulation.

To assay the final specific activity of the spiked test formulation,approximately 10-30 mg of the formulation was weighed (n=3), 100 μlsamples were placed in 10 ml of Ecoscint® scintillation fluor (NationalDiagnostics #LS275) and counted in a Beckman Model LS 3801 liquidscintillation counter with a pre-calibrated quench curve for theradiolabel.

Equipment

The in vitro percutaneous studies utilized a total of 54 Franz staticdiffusion glass chambers (Crown Glass Cat #FDC-100) with a magneticstirrer mounted on a 9-position Franz diffusion cell drive console withacrylic blocks, magnetic stirrers, and stainless steel manifolds (Crown#FDCD-9-LV). The reservoir volume of each cell was pre-calibrated. Thediffusion cells were filled with an isotonic buffered (pH 7.4) saline(Bio-Whittaker Cat. #16-006Y) with 0.01% sodium azide (SIGMA Cat.#S-2002), with care to avoid bubbles at the skin interface. Thediffusion cells were equilibrated to a temperature of 37° C. by acirculating water pump prior to applying the skin specimens.

Application of Test Formulations to Skin:

The human skin equilibrated to 37° C. was cut to size and placed on thechamber and sealed with an O-ring. A total of 10-30 mg of the spikedformulation was applied to the skin surface using a Gilson Microman®pipette and gently rubbed into the skin using the pipette tip. Thedispensing tips were retained and counted. The mean Dose Per Mass(“DPM”) retained by the dispensing tips was calculated and subtractedfrom the theoretical DPM to determine the mean total DPM applied to eachchamber. The skin surface area exposed to the test formulations was upto 1.77 cm² (15 mm diameter). Penetration chambers were available insizes of 5 mm, 9 mm, and 15 mm diameter.

For the control group, Estrogel® (0.06% estradiol gel) was applied toskin samples to compare the percutaneous absorption of the claimedcomposition with a marketed product for transdermal delivery ofestrogen.

Sample Collection

At 1, 6, and 24 hours, a 1.0 ml sample was removed from the reservoirusing a calibrated Gilson P1000 Pipetteman® micropipette, and the volumewas replaced with 1.0 ml saline solution. The samples were placed in ascintillation vial containing Ecoscint® scintillation fluor (NationalDiagnostics #LS-275) and equilibrated overnight in the dark beforecounting.

At the final time point (24 hours,), the skin surface was wiped with awet paper towel to remove residual test formulation from the skinsurface.

The skin specimens were removed from the chamber and placed dermis sidedown onto a flat surface. The stratum corneum was removed bytape-stripping the skin with cellophane tape until glistening(approximately 20 strips) or until epidermal separation started tooccur. Following tape stripping, the dermis and epidermis were separatedusing microwave technique (2-5 seconds). The separated epidermis wasplaced in a vial containing 1 ml of Soluene 350 (Packard, Inc. #6013319)was added to the digested tissues, counted in a Beckman LSC, andcorrected for quenching.

The percent of radiolabeled drug recovered in the reservoir and skincompartments (epidermis, dermis) was determined by calculating thepercent of the total applied DPM recovered in the respectivecompartments. The results of the skin penetration study are representedgraphically in FIG. 3, as will be described in greater detail below.

The total micrograms of drug recovered in each compartment was obtainedby multiplying the percent recovery by the total amount (micrograms) ofdrug applied to each chamber.

Data Entry/Calculations

The DPM data from the LSC tapes, measurements for cell volume, andquantity of drug applied were entered into a standardized Quattro Prospreadsheet. The data entry and computer calculations were verified tobe accurate as were the tables, graphs, and calculations generated bythe spreadsheet.

Data were calculated after discarding outlier values for eachcompartment. A value was considered to be an “outlier” if thequestionable value differed from the re-calculated average by more thanfour times the average deviation of the remaining values (Skoog & West,Analytical Chemistry). After deleting the data for cells which hadoutlying reservoir values, the remaining skin compartments (epidermis,dermis) were then subjected to the criteria for outliers, and wereseparately deleted if they meet the criteria.

RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of the results of the experiments revealed that estriol andestradiol penetrated the epidermis and dermis layer of the skin withminimal to no transdermal penetration. Turning to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is abar graph illustrating the percent recovery of radioactively labeledestradiol and estriol of the present composition as compared with aconventional estrogen-containing topical formulation, Estrogel®, in thevarious layers of the skin surface. The estradiol and estriol of thetest formulations exhibited excellent penetration of the dermis,epidermis, stratum corneum surface, and stratum corneum. However, asevidenced by FIG. 5, the amount of systemic absorption of estradiol andestriol (reflected in the “reservoir”) was significantly less than theconventional, FDA-approved topical hormonal replacement cream,Estrogel®. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the disclosedcomposition was more effective in transdermal and cutaneous delivery ofestradiol than Estrogel®. However, as lower concentrations of estradiolwere contained in the disclosed composition, the total transdermal andcutaneous delivery of estradiol was less in the composition as comparedwith Estrogel®. The mean transdermal delivery of estradiol was 0.07micrograms for Estrogel® versus 0.04 micrograms for the disclosedcomposition. The total surface area to which the 12 mg of formulationwas applied was 0.068 cm². The percent transdermal and cutaneousdelivery of the estriol was approximately the same as the estradiol(Estrogel®). However, since the disclosed composition contained higherestriol concentrations, the total micrograms delivered transdermally andcutaneously was higher with estriol than with estradiol.

Example 3 Use of Estriol, Estradiol, Green Tea Extract, and HyaluronicAcid to Treat Urge Incontinence

An individual suffering from urge incontinence is identified. Theindividual is administered 2 grams of a vaginal cream comprising 0.2 w/w% estriol;. 0.01 w/w % estradiol, 1.0 w/w % hyaluronic acid, and 0.2 w/w% green tea extract using an applicator three times a week until theurge incontinence is resolved.

After treatment, improved bladder control is observed with a reductionin incontinence.

Example 4 Use of Estriol, Estradiol, Green Tea Extract and HyaluronicAcid to Treat Vaginal Dryness

An individual presenting with vaginal dryness associated with menopauseis identified. The individual is administered intravaginally a foamcomprising 0.4 w/w % estriol;. 0.03 w/w % estradiol, 5 w/w % hyaluronicacid, and 0.1 w/w % green tea extract once a day as needed. Followingtreatment, an increase in vaginal moisture is observed.

Example 5 Use of Estriol, Estradiol, Green Tea Extract, Hyaluronic Acid,Date Palm Extract, and Ascorbic Acid to Treat Signs of Skin Aging

An individual presenting with wrinkles and sun damage is identified. Theindividual is administered topically a cream comprising 0.2 w/w %estriol, 0.01 w/w % estradiol, 0.2 w/w % hyaluronic acid, 0.2 w/w %green tea extract, 0.1 w/w % ascorbic acid, and 5.0 w/w % date palmextract twice daily. A reduction in wrinkle depth and amelioration ofdamage caused by the sun is observed following treatment.

Example 6 Use of Composition Comprising Estriol, Estradial, HyaluronicAcid, and Green Tea Extract for the Treatment of Rosacea

A patient presenting with rosacea was treated by administering a topicalformulation comprising 0.02 w/w % estriol, 0.01 w/w % estradiol, and0.2% hyaluronic acid professionally compounded in Dermabase Cream™(Paddock Laboratories, Minneapolis, Minn.) as described above withreference to Example 1. The formulation also included 0.2 w/w % greentea extract. FIG. 6 includes photographs of the patient taken prior tothe initiation of treatment. Notice, prior to treatment, the patientpresented with confluent erythematous papules on the cheeks, chin, andforehead with an increase in capillaries, flushing, and telangiectasia.The composition was administered twice daily for a period of fourmonths. At the conclusion of the clinical trial, a photograph was takenof the patient. See FIG. 7. A marked reduction in redness andminimization of bumps were observed on the surface of the patient's skinafter treatment with the composition. A significant improvement andreduction of papules and erythema.

The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the instantdisclosure. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailedthe foregoing appears in text, the invention can be practiced in manyways. Certain modifications to the compositions and methods describedherein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The claimsappended hereto are intended to encompass these modifications. As isalso stated above, it should be noted that the use of particularterminology when describing certain features or aspects of the inventionshould not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-definedherein to be restricted to including any specific characteristics of thefeatures or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology isassociated. The scope of the invention should therefore be construed inaccordance with the appended claims and any equivalents thereof

All references and patents cited herein are incorporated by reference.

1. A method for treating the symptoms of skin aging, comprising:identifying an individual presenting with symptoms of skin aging; andtopically administering to said individual a pharmaceutically effectivedose of a composition, comprising: a pharmaceutically effective amountof estriol; a pharmaceutically effective amount of estradiol; apharmaceutically effective amount of hyaluronic acid; a pharmaceuticallyeffective amount of green tea extract; and a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmaceuticallyeffective amount of estriol is between about 0.01 to about 3.0 w/w %. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmaceutically effective amount ofestradiol is between about 0.0001 to about 3.0 w/w %.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said pharmaceutically effective amount of hyaluronicacid is between about 0.01 to about 50.0 w/w %.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein said pharmaceutically effective amount of green tea extractis between about 0.01 and 10.0 w/w %.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid estriol comprises between about 0.01 to about 3.0 w/w %, saidestradiol comprises between about 0.0001 to 3.0 w/w %, said hyaluronicacid comprises between about 0.01 to about 50.0 w/w %; and said greentea extract comprises between about 0.01 to about 10.0 w/w %.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier isselected from the group consisting of a cream, an ointment, a lotion, agel, a salve, and an aerosol spray.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid individual is a post-menopausal female.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein said individual is a pre-menopausal female.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said individual is a male.
 11. The method of claim 1,wherein said symptoms of skin aging are selected from the groupconsisting of rhytids, wrinkles, jowls, sun damage, dull appearance ofskin, loss of skin taughtness, keratosis, hyperpigmentation, melasma,solar lentigo, solar keratosis, dermatoheliosis, and skin discoloration.12. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises apharmaceutically effective amount of ascorbic acid, wherein saidpharmaceutically effective amount of ascorbic acid is between about 0.01to about 10.0 w/w %.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said compositionfurther comprises a pharmaceutically effective amount of date palmextract, wherein said pharmaceutically effective amount of date palmextract is between about 0.01 and 25 w/w %.